After most heavy rains, the Water heater will not start, goes on/off-on/off------
Until it warms up and dries or I dry it with the wife's hair dryer.
Then it runs great, until the next heavy rain, it does not actually get wet in the compartment, only damp.

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After most heavy rains, the Water heater will not start, goes on/off-on/off------
Until it warms up and dries or I dry it with the wife's hair dryer.
Then it runs great, until the next heavy rain, it does not actually get wet in the compartment, only damp.

Your problem sounds like loose and/or corroded wiring connections. I had a similar problem years ago, and I discovered that crud and corrosion was causing poor electrical connections.

I suggest you carefully disconnect each wire connection (one at a time) and clean it using fine emery paper. After cleaning, a little dab of dielectric grease at each connection can help prevent future problems from moisture and water. Dielectric grease can be purchased at AutoZone, Advance Auto, or any auto parts store. It's purpose is to help seal out moisture and water from spark plug wire connections, but it's effective in this application as well.

If it is not bad connections as Tom describes, then you will probably have to replace the circuit board. It is sealed, but moisture is obviously affecting an electrical circuit somewhere, so if not the wiring than it's likely the baord itself. Figure $100-$140 for a replacement board.

You might check to see if you are getting 12-13 volts DC to the circuit board the next time it won't start. If not, it's definitely the wiring. If you are getting 12V and it still won't start, the circuit board is suspect but you need to make sure the ground and any other connections are good too. For example, if the t-stat is not calling for heat (closing the ingntion circuit properly), it isn't going to start. Corrosion on the t-stat connectors could casue that.

__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition
Home is in the Ocala Nat'l Forest near Ocala, FL
Summers in Black Mountain, NC

In addition to the other suggestions, if the heater is an automatic ignition type, you might want to make sure the igniter wire is not rubbing against metal. If so move it away and spray silicon on the insulation (not the tip). That might keep moisture from collecting on it.